Mail collecting and delivering apparatus.



W.A .LOOMIS. MAIL COLLECTING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS. APPLIOATIQN FILED MAY 21, 1908.

919,290. Patented Apr. 20, 1909. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 1 38 sg [u b 3 5f j *3 w.- A. LOOMIS, mm, consume AND; DELIVERING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1908. I 91 9,290. Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

5 Minna-sum 2.

w. A. LOOMIS. MAIL COLLECTING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

r. An 6 a mm m mu w m P W m Q m W A LOOMIS MAIL COLLECTING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21,1908.

Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

' 6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W A LOOMIS MAIL COLLECTING AND DELIVERING APPABATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 190B.

Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

- EBHEEI'S-BHEET 5.

NR m M 5: Q Jm wN F r N v s s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. LOOHIS, OF ILION, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO RUFUS GATES STARKWEATHER, OF JORDANVILLE, NEW YORK.

MAIL COLLECTING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lCIlOW'Il that 1, WILLIAM ARTHUR Looms, a citizen of the United States, residing at llion, in the county of Herkimer and i tate of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail- Collecting and Delivering Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for collecting and delivering mail matter especially in rural districts so as to dispense with the services of the usual postman, and it has for its object to provide an efficient system of this character embodying a car or carrier which is mounted to travel upon wires which extend through the district in which the mail matter is to be collected or distributed and which is propelled over the route, each trip of the carrier serving not only to distribute the mail matter properly for the different patrons, but also to collect mail matter upon each trip, the apparatus being so constructed that receptacles containing the mail matter to be distributed are transported by the carrier and are adapted to be discharged therefrom at appropriate points on the route, the carrier being also provided with means for taking up or receiving receptacles at different points which contain mail matter which is carried to the POSt-O'lllCB for posting.

Another object of the invention is to imvide magazines for the carrier one of w ich is adapted to be charged at the post-ofiice with a considerable number of mail receptacles which are arranged therein according to the order of the different patrons so that as the carrier traverses the route it will properly distribute these receptacles to the appropriate patrons, the other magazine being arranged to successively take up or collect mail -receptacles at di'derent points on the route, the receptacles to be distributed being so placed'in the magazine of the carrier that they may be delivered from either or both sides of the carrier.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a system of this character wherein the carrier travels upon suitably supported wires which serve not only as a track for guiding and supporting the carrier, but also serve to convey power to a motor on the carrier which serves to ropel the same.

Further objects of tie invention are to provide a system of this character wherein Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 21, 1908.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Serial No. 434,177.

the receiving devices for the several patrons on the route are ca able of being controlled preferably electrica ly from the post-office so that the receiving devices will be set in position to receive a receptacle from the carrier only when there is a mail receptacle upon the carrier which is to be delivered to the particularpatron, and also to provide simple and efficient means for automatically controlling the speed of the carrier so that the movement of the same may be substantially uniform, although the inclination of the supporting wires or track may vary at different points on the route.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements, and combinations and'arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a mail delivering and collecting system laid out in accordance with my present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a section of the track showing the devices for collecting and delivering the mail receptacles for one of the patrons; Fig. 3 is a detail view of a pair of receiving devices which are arranged to remove mail receptacles from both sides of the carrier and to conduct them to the patrons residing at opposite sides of the track; Fig. 4 represents an elevation of one of the supporting posts showing the devices for receiving and discharging the mail receptacles as the carrier passes; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the can rier, a portion thereof being shown in sec tion; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the carrier shown in Fig. 5 Fig. 7 represents a rear elevation of the carrier shown in Figs. 5 and 6; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the rear end of the carrier showing the distributing magazine removed; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the distributing magazine detached from the carrier; Fig. 10 shows the position of the carrier upon the track, a portion of the distributing magazine being broken away to show the mail receptacles therein, and the receiving devices for the receptacles to be discharged being also shown, one of the receiving devices being shown in operative position and the others in an inoperative position; Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view of the rear portion of the carrier and one of the receiving devices showing the manner in which a receptacle is removed from the carrier during the passage of the same; 12 is a-perspective view of one of the receiving devices showing means for setting the receiving device in an operative or inoperative position; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of i one of the mail receptacles removed from the carrier; Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view of said receptacle showing the hook which cooperates with. the appropriate receiving device; Figs. 15 and 16 show a forward portion of the carrier in elevation indicating the manner in which a receptacle to be collected is received upon the carrier; Fig. 17 is a detail view of the devices for supporting receptacle in position to be received or collected by the carrier; Fig. 18 is a detail sectional view showing the manner of mounting the guiding rods or wires in the forward or collecting magazine of the carrier; and hi 19 is a detail sectional view of an. automatic brake or speedcontrolling device for the carrier.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views.

My present invention provides a system for automatically distributing and collecting mail, and is especially adapted for use in rural districts wherein it is necessary for the usual postmen to cover a considerable area, although it will be understood, of course, that the system may be applied generally to various uses wherein it is desirable or necessary to transfer packages, parcels and other articles from one place to another.

I have shown in the accompanying drawings one particular embodiment of the invention as applied to a system for distributing and collecting mail in rural districts.

In the present instance, a carrier or car is mounted to traverse a track which extends throughout the district which is covered by the system, and the track employed in the present instance comprises upper and lower wires 1 and 2 which may be of any appropriate size and are preferably of copper or other suitable material which will serve as a conductor of electricity. These wires are supported at uniform distance one above the other and the wires are supported by posts the usual telegraph poles being utilized for this purpose if so desired, or, if preferable,

special poles may be provided for the pur-,

pose. These wires are supported on each pole by means of a pair of upper and lower brackets at and which are bolted or otherf wise secured to the pole and extend out to the wires to which they are attached in a suitable way that will permit unobstructed passage of the supporting wheels on the carrier.

The carrier 6 may be of any appropriate construction, that shown in the present instance being provided with a pair of upper grooved wheels or pulleys 7 which engage the upper side of the upper wire 1, and a pair of lower grooved wheels or pulleys 8 which engage the upper side of the lower wire 2, the flanges of these grooved wheels being sufliciently deep to permit a high speed of the carrier without danger of its derailment.

The carrier is preferably provided with a motor which serves to propel it, an electric motor 9 being shown in the present instance which may conveniently derive its current or power from the upper and lower wires which serve as trolleys, the terminal wires 10 and 11 of the motor in the present instance being connected respectively to one or more of the upper and lower grooved wheels, as may be desired, and these wheels, of course, take up the current through the trolley wires. The movement of the motor may be transmitted in any appropriate manner so as to cause the carrier to travel along the track it being suitably connected in the present instance to a driving wheel 12 which is preferably ar ranged intermediate of the two upper supporting wheels and bears on the under side of the upper wire, rotation of this driving wheel, of course, producing a traversing movement. of the carrier.

Attached to the rear of the carrier is a distributing magazine .13 and at the front of the carrier is mounted a collecting magazine 14. The distributing magazine is adapted to receive the mail containing receptacles which are to be distributed to the various patrons along the route, and in order to facilitate its loading at the post-office, it is preferably detachably connected to the carrier. In the present instance, this distributing magazine comprises a receptacle having a top 15 and a bottom 16 and a suitable number of intermediate shelves 17, the forward end of the magazine being closed by a wall 18, and the shelves are divided by the vertical partitions 19 so as to form sets of compartments at opposite sides of the magazine which are adapted to receive and contain the mail receptacles The magazine in the present instance is detachably connected to the carrier by means of a pair of upper and lower brackets 20 and 21 which are provided at their respective upper and lower sides with sockets or recesses 22 and 23 to receive the projecting portions 24 and 25 arranged at the rear end of the carrier, a transverse locking pin 26 extending horizontally through the upper bracket 20 and the projecting portion 24 resting in the recess thereof, and the vertically arranged pin 27 extending through the bracket 21 and the projecting portion 25 resting in the recess thereof to detachabl lock the magazine to the carrier. Obvious v, by removing the respective pins, the magazine maybe readily detached from the carrier and when thus dotached, it may be conveniently loaded with the mail receptacles at the post-oflice. In

order to protect the contents of the distributing and receiving magazines from the weather, forward and rear shields 28 and 29 are provided which overhang the respective magazines, these shields being preferably formed of sheet metal which extends the full length of the carrier, the sides of the carrier being also preferably inclosed so as to protect the operating mechanism therein from the weather.

At the outer edge of each horizontal shelf of the distributing magazine is fastened a retaining strip 30 which preferably overlaps partially the respective openings between the shelves, and into these compartments at each side of the vertical partition 19 are inserted a suitable number of mail receptacles 31. In the present instance, I have shown two mail receptacles in each compartment, but it is to be understood, of course, that the relative size of thesecompartments and the mail receptacles may be such that any desirable number of these mail receptacles may be accommodated in each compartment. Ar, ranged at the side of each vertical partition are pairs of springs 32 which are compressed when the mail receptacles are inserted and which are expansible so as to automatically feed the receptacles into a position at the outer side of the respective compartment and against the retaining strip 80. These mail receptacles may be of any appropriate construction, it being generally preferable to form them of a generally rectangular shape of sheet metal, a door 33 being provided preferably at one end of the receptacle to permit insertion and removal of the postal matter with reference thereto, and one side of each receptacle is provided with a hook 34 which projects laterally and is open at the forward side to engage an appropriate delivering device to be hereinafter described. The opposite side of each receptacle is provided with a longitudinal depression or groove 85 which extends from a point near the rear end of the receptacle to the front edge thereof so as to accommodate the discharging hook on the next receptacle resting in the compartment. The rear end of the delivery magazine is provided with a back 36 which extends laterally in opposite directions from the central partition 19 and provides a space just sufficient to permit the rearward discharge of a mail receptacle from themagazine, as shown in Fig. 11, the receptacles remaining in the magazine abutting against this back and being thereby prevented from discharging except one at a time. That side of the receptacle on which the discharging hook is located is also provided with apair of grooves or depressions 37 which extend transversely of the receptacle for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

At appropriate points along the route, de liveringdevices are. arranged to cooperate cessible to the patron from which point the mail matter may be removed from the receptacle. In the present instance, the upper end of this wire or cable is mounted upon a lever 39 which is pivoted at 4:0 to a suitable support fixed to the post, the lower end of the wire or cable being pivoted upon a link or lever 41 which may be mounted inany suitable position, such for instance, as upon the door frame. A buffer of felt or other material 42 is preferablymounted at the lower end of the trolley, and the upper end of the wire or cable or delivery wire is provided with a vertically arranged hook engaging portion 43 which is preferably of a reduced diameter, or, of a diameter less than that of the remainder of the delivery wire or cable, the diameter of this reduced portion being just sufficient to enter the opening in the dis charge hook 34 of each receptacle. By, mounting the delivery wire or cable upon levers or links at its upper and lower ends, it is capable of a shifting movement in a direction transversely ofthe track upon which the 95 carrier travels, and therefore, it may be shifted either in a osition to engage the discharge hookof tie appropriate receptacle and thus remove it rearwardly from the carrier, or, it may be sup orted in such a posi 100 tion that it will clear t 1e discharge hooks of the receptacles in those cases where there is no mail to be delivered to that particular patron.

It is generally preferable that the position of the various delivery devices along the route should be controllable from the post'- oi'lice or central station according to whether or not there is mail matter to be delivered to the corresponding 7 atrons and, in the present instance, I have s own electrical means for controlling the setting of the various delivery devices. A s ring 44 is connected to the lower end of t e lever 39 and normally tends to swing the delivery device into a position to engage a hook upon the appropriate receptacle and thus discharge it from the carrier. The lever 39 is also provided with an armature as which is arranged in cooperative relation with a magnet 46. By reference to Fig. 1 it will be observed that each'magnet is connected to a common wire 47 which leads from a source of current supply 48 atv a suitable point, such as at the Ipost-office, and each magnet is provided wit a return wire, these return wires being designated 49, 50, 51, 52 and 53 which lead to the respective switches 54 to 58, inclusive, arranged on a suitable switch board which is o erable at the post-ofiice. Beforesending t e'caroff upon the route to distribute the mail, the switches which control the magnets at all the points where mail matter is not to be delivered for the corresponding patron. are closed so that a current will pass through such magnets, causing them to be energized and thereby attracting the cooperating armatures which, during their movements, will withdraw the respective delivering devices so as to clear the hoolzs upon the receptacles on the carrier so that no receptacle will be de livered at such points. Of course, those magnets through which the circuit is not closed, will not be energized, and therefore, their respective springs will retain the corresponding delivering wires in position. to en gage the hooks upon the appropriate receptacles as they are carried into engagement therewith by the movement of the carrier,

the dischar e hook of the anoro )riate rece tacle engaging the reduced portion 43 of the delivery wire and causing it to be withdrawn from the rear of the distributing magazine, as shown in Fig. 11. As soon as the receptacle has been wholly withdrawn from the carrier, it will swing downwardly and slide by gravity down the inclined wire 38, the movement of the receptacle being arrested by the butter 42 so that the receptacle will be positioned at a point within convenient access of the patron. The opening of the hool; on the different mail receptacles is less than the diameter of the major portion of the wire 38 so that it will be impossible for persons to intercept the receptacle as it descends the wire 38 and to remove it from the delivery wire, although if so desired, reduced portion may be formed in this wire at point adjacent to the bui'i'er 42 to enable the patron though it is possible to remove the mail matter from the receptacle by opening the door in the end thereby by means of a key, and in that case,.1t would be unnecessary to remove the receptacle at all from the wire.

In some cases, it may be desirable to ar range a number of delivery devices on the same post to run to the di'l l'erent patrons residing ad acent thereto, and such an arrangelevels and are arranged to remove mail receptacles irom the different shelves of the carrier.

The apparatus shown in the present in- I stance is not only capable of distributing mail matter in the manner above described,

but it is also capable of collecting mail matter upon the same trip, the forwarn or collecting magazine 14 being provided upon the carrier for this purpose. This collecting magazine in r the present instance 18 composed of a suitable number of superposed shelves 59 suitably spaced vertically to receive horizontal rows of the mail receptacles between them, the

rails 60, those shown in the present instance being arranged immediately beneath the respective shelves, they being supported at their rear ends, and the forward ends thereof are up-turned as shown at 61 and rest in a recess 62 in the under side of the respective shelf, as shown in Fig. 18, su'l'licient play being thereby provided in order that these guiding rods may yield to accommodate the receptacles and to retain them from accidental displacement. These rods are suitably spaced laterally to enter the transverse grooves 37 formed in the upper side of each mail receptacle, and by tapering the forward ends of the shelves and the guiding rods, the introduction of the receptacles between the shelves is facilitated. These mail receptacles may be supported in any suitable manner so as to be taken up by the carrier while it traverses t e route, a relatively axed bracket 63 being mounted upon the post in the present instance and provided with a recess 64 to receive a corner of one end of the mail receptacle, and a spring is mounted above this recess to engage the upper side of the receptacle and thus prevent its displacement from the recess. A downwardly-curved guide 66 is also preferably mounted on this bracket so as to facilitate the entrance of the receptacle into the recess thereon. The opposite end of the receptacle to be collected is adapted to be supported by an arm 67 which, in the present instance, is preferably pivoted at 68 upon a g bracket 69 in order that this arm may be i t l i l l l i l l l swung into operative and inoperative positions. The free end of this arm is provided to remove the receptacle from the wire, al-

with a bracket 70 having a recess '71 formed in its upper side to receive one end of the receptacle, and a spring 72 is mounted on this arm and arranged to cooperate with'the upper side of thereceptacle to detach-ably retain it in the said recess. This arm is adapted to hang in such a position that a mail receptacle to be collected may be readily fitted 3 into the space between the recess therein and r the retaining spring, it being )OSSlble to inment is shown in Fig. 10, the several delivery devices being arranged at different vertical sert this receptacle from the ground or any other convenient point. The arm 67 may then be swung mto an operat1ve position, the

free end of the receptacle carried by the arm then entering the space between the recess 64 i l l l and the spring 65 on the stationary bracket 63, and while the receptacle is supported between these parts, it will be in position to enter the space between the appropriate shelves of the collecting magazine on the carrier as the latter passes the post. The inclined forward ends of these shelves in engaging the receptacle to be collected will first lift the receptacle from the respective recesses 64 and 71, and a continued movement of the carrier will cause the receptacle to enter between the shelves, and as additional receptacles are taken up at different points along the route, the receptacles will be forced rearwardly into the space between the shelves will be retained in a position that will suport the receptacle in position to be collected y the carrier as it passes. A pair of bracing arms 77 may be extended outwardly from the post to engage at opposite sides of the arm 67 when the latter is in operative position to prevent strain or displacement of the latter as the carrier takes up the rece tacle. In some cases, a pair of delivery evices 7 S and 7 9 may be arranged at opposite sides of the track so as to simultaneously receive receptacles from the ppposite sides of the carrier, as shown in Fig. 3, and. in those instances, a pair of arms 80 and 81 may be also mounted upon the post so as to provide means for simultaneously sup )orting a corresponding number of receptac es which-may be simultaneously taken up by the carrier as it asses.

11 order to control the movement of the carrier or to render the movement thereof uniform, it is generally preferable to provide a brake or speed-controlling device, such a device being shown in Figs. 5 and 19 of the drawing and comprising a tube 82 which is pivoted at 83 upon a stationary bracket 84,

and this tube is adapted to contain a body of mercury or other relatively heavy material which is capable of moving from one end of the tube to the other according to the inclination thereof. At one end of the tube is mounted a brake shoe 85 which is adapted to cooperate with the )eriphery of one of the wheels driven by t e motor, the driving wheel 12 being utilized as a brake wheel in the present instance. The opposite end of this tube is arranged to cooperate with a pair of stops 86 and 87 arranged at the top and bottom thereof, the stops shown in the present instance being set-screws which are capable of adjustment to vary the range of tiltingmovement of the tube. Obviously,

when the carrier is descending an incline, the

corresponding angular inclination of the carrier will cause the mercury to flow toward the forward end of the tube, thus unbalancing the tube and causing the brake shoe to bear upon the brake wheel to retard the movement of the carrier, whereas while the carrier is on a level or is ascending an incline,

the center of gravit of the mercury will be toward the rear en of the tube, thus holding the brake shoe out of engagement with the brake wheel and thus permitting the carrier to move at the requisite speed. Power may be applied to the system at any suitable point, a source of current supply 88 being indicated in Fig. 1 the terminals of which are connected respectively to the upper and lower supporting wires on which the carrier moves, the motor of the carrier taking up the current from the respective wires by means of the respective uper and lower grooved. wheels which trave upon these wires.

By providing a distributing magazine wherein the mail receptacles are arranged therein in horizontal rows superposed one above another, it is possible to carry a large number of receptacles upon the carrier, the receiving devices for the atrons being correspondingly arranged at ifferent heights so that after all the receptacles from one compartment have been removed, those in the next higher or lower compartments will be removed, and according to the )resent construction, the receptacles may e delivered from either or both sides of the track. It is also advantageous to mount the carrier so as to travel upon a pair of upper and lower wires, as these wires not on y serve to conduct the electric current for operating the carrier, but they also steady the carrier and prevent its swaying by the wind.

I claim as my invention 2- 1. A distributing system of the class described comprising a track, a carrier adapted to traverse said track and provided with a magazine having a compartment capable of receiving a plurality of mail receptacles arranged successively in a direction trans versely of the carrier, and means for successively removing said receptacles from said compartment.

2. A distributing system of the class described comprising a track, a carrier adapted to traverse said track and provided with transversely arranged magazines having compartments capable of receiving a plurality of receptac es and positioning a num ber of them for delivery at different positions on the carrier, means for successively removing said receptacles from the magazine, and means for automatically feeding the receptacles progressively into position to be discharged after each removal of a receptacle.

3. A mail distributing system comprising a track, a carrier adapted to traverse said track and provided with a magazine adapted to receive a plurality of successively arranged mail receptacles, means for successively removing the receptacles from the magazine, and means for automatically advancing said receptacles in a direction transversely of the carrier and into position to be discharged after removal of each receptacle preceding it.

i. A mail distributing system comprising a track, a carrier adapted to traverse said track and provided With a magazine adapted to receive a row of successively arranged iiiail receptacles, a spring arranged in the inagazine in rear of said receptacles and adapted to automatically advance said receptacles each time a receptacle is removed from the magazine, and means for removing each receptacle from the magazine.

5. A mail distributing system of the class described comprising a track, a carrier adaptwith a ed to traverse said track and provided magazine adapted to receive a transverse? I'OW of mail receptacles, means lor successively advancing said receptacles laterally receiving into position to be removed, and

each receptacle for removal, and a delivering device arranged to c-oiiperate with the positioned receptacle to remove it from the magazine during the nioven'ient of the car- Her.

'7. A mail distributing systei'n comprising a track, a carrier adapted to traverse said track and provided with a magazine having compartments at opposite sides thereof, each adapted to receive a transverse row oi mail receptacles, means within the magazine for moving the receptacles laterally toward the respective sides oi the magazine, devices for positioning the respective receptacles in po sition to be (ilelivered, and receiving means arranged to remove a receptacle from either side of the magazine.

8. A mail distributing system comprising a track, carrier adapted plurality oi superposed compartments, each coinpartine it being adapted to receive a transverse row of mail receptacles, means Within each compartment lor automatically feeding the receptacles laterally toward one side of the magazine, and receiving means ward the respective sides of means arranged to remove the positioned .receptacle from the magazine in a direction i l i i l l l l l i l i to traverse the same and provided ivith a magazine having a j vmagazine, devices for retaining the appropriate receptacles in position to be delivered from the magazine, and a delivering device adapted to be positioned at an appropriate level to remove a receptacle from a corresponding compartment in the magazine.

10. A mail distributing system comprising a track, a carrier adapted to traverse the same and provided at its rear end With a distributing magazine having a plurality or" superposed shelves forming compartments, a vertical partition dividing the shelves transversely of the springs attached to said partition for automatically feeding a transverse row of receptacles in each compartment tothe magazine, retaining strips arranged on the opposite sides of the magazine for positioning the respective receptacles in position to be delivered therefrom, a baclr providing a dischar e opening at the rear of the magazine siiilicieiit to permit the removal of the receptaclcs therefrom one at a time from each compartment, and receiving means for removing a receptacle from an appropriate compartment.

11. 1'; mail distributing system comprising a track, a carrier adapted to traverse the same and provided with a distributing magazine at its rear, said magazine having a coinpartment, a feed spring arrangez'l Within said compartment, set of mail receptacles adapted to be introduced in a row into said coinpartment, each receptacle having a hook projecting laterally from one side and a longitudinal groove or depression to accommodate the hook oi the neat adiacent receptacle in the magazine, and a delivering device arranged to engage the hook of the appropriate receptacle to remove the latter from the inagazii'ie during the passage of the carrier.

12. A mail distributing system comprising av track, a carrier adapted to traverse the same, a magazine movable with the carrier and having a compartment therein, a plurality of mail receptacles contained in said compartment, each having a laterally pr0 jectiiig discharge hook, and aklolivering device for removing the receptacles from the i'nagazine, said device comprising a Wire having a portion to engage the hook of the appropriate receptacle and inclined so as to conduct the receptacle by ,q ravitv to a suit able point.

'13. A mail distributing apparatus comprising a track, a carrier adapted to traverse the same and provided With a magazine having a compartment therein, a plurality of mail receptacles contained in said magazine and having laterally projecting discharge hooks, and a receiving device comprising a 'trical means Wire having a reduced portion arranged to enter said hook to remove the receptacle from the carrier and having a portion of a diameter larger than the opening of said hook to revent unauthorized removal of the receptac e therefrom.

14. A mail distributing apparatus comprising a track, a carrier adapted to traverse the same and provided with a magazine having a compartment, 9 set of mail receptacles contained in said magazine and provided with laterally projecting discharge hooks, and a receiving device mounted to move to and from operative position with respect to the receiving hook of an appropriate recep tacle in said ma azine whereby the discharge of the receptacles from the latter may be controlled.

15. A mail distributing apparatus cornprising a track, a carrier adapted to traverse the same and provided with a magazine having a compartment, a set of mail receptacles contained in said magazine, and a receiving device comprising a wire mounted for movement transversely of the track so as to move to and from operative position vnth respect to an appropriate mail receptacle therein whereby the discharge of the receptacles from the magazine may be controlled.

16. A mail distributing apparatus comprising a track, a carrier adapted to traverse the same and provided with a magazine, a set of mail receptacles adapted to be contained in said magazine, a receiving device adapted to remove a receptacle from said magazine and movable to and from operative position with respect thereto, and elecfor controlling the position of said receiving device.

17. A mail distributing apparatus comprising a track, a carrier adapted to traverse the same and provided with a magazine, a set of mail receptacles adapted to be contained in said magazine, a receiving device adapted to remove a receptacle from said magazine and mounted for movement transversely of the track whereby it may be adjusted to and from operative position, and electrical means for setting said receiving device in an inoperative position.

18. A mail distributing apparatus comprising a track, a carrier adapted to traverse the track and provided with a magazine, a set of mail receptacles adapted to be contained in the magazine and to be successively delivered therefrom, a set of receiving devices arranged at different points along said track and adapted to successively remove the receptacles from the magazine, and means controllable from a given point for setting the receiving devices in operative or inoperative positions.

19. A mail distributing apparatus coml l l l the same and provided with a magazine, a set of mail receptaclesadapted to be contained in said magazine, a receiving device comprising an inclined wire, means for supporting said wire at its opposite ends for a shift ing movement transversely ofthe track so as to set it in an. operative or inoperative position, a magnet arranged to operate said wire in one direction, a spring wire in a reverse direction, and means for controlling the passage of an electric current through said magnet.

20. A mail collecting apparatus comprising a track, a carrier adapted to traverse the track and carrying a collecting magazine at the forward end thereof comprising a plurality of differently located compartments, and means arranged along the line in different positions in alinement with the respective compartments of the collecting magazine for supporting a receptacle in position to be re- .ceived by said magazine during the passage of said carrier.

21. A mail collecting apparatus comprising a track, a carrier adapted to traverse the same and provided with a collecting magazine at its forward end, said magazine being provided with a set of superposed compartments arranged at different elevations, and means arranged along the. line at different elevations corresponding to those of the respective compartments for supporting a receptacle in position to be received by the ap-' propriate compartment in said magazine.

22. A mail collecting apparatus comprising a track, a carrier to traverse the same, a magazine arranged at the forward end of said carrier and embodying a shelf having an inclined portion at its forward end, and supporting means for a receptacle to be collected, said supporting means being provided with a recess in which said receptacle is adapted to be seated and from which it is to be lifted by an engagement thereof with the inclined portion of the magazine.

23. A mail handling apparatus comprising a track, a carrier to traverse the same, acollecting receptacle arranged at the forward end of the carrier and provided with a longitudinally extending guide rod, a receptacle to be collected having a groove to enter said magazine and cooperate with said guide rod, and means for supporting said receptacle in position to be received by said magazine.

24. A mail handling apparatus comprising a track, a carrier to traverse the same, a col. lecting magazine arranged at the forward for operating the end of the carrier and provided with a series yielding movement, a receptacle to be colprising a track, a carrier adapted to traverse l lected having a pair of grooves to engage the ceived by said magazine.

25. A mail handling apparatus com. prising a track, a carrier adapted to traverse the 5 same and provided with a collecting receptacle, and means tor supportmg a receptacle in position to be received by said. magazine, 1 means comprising a relatively fixed upper and lower track wires, a carrier having said bracket, and a )ivoted arm having means to receive one eno of a receptacle and movable into 0 )erative position to carry the opposite end 0 said receptacle into engagement with the stationary bracket.

26. A mail handling apparatus comprising a track, a carrier adapted to traverse the same, a magazine movable with the carrier, and means for supporting a receptacle in position to be received by the magz'izine, saidv means comprising a stationary bracket provided with a recess to receive one end of the magazine, and a spring to retain the magazine in engagement with said. recess, a pivoted arm mounted to swing in a vertical plane and having a recess to receive the opposite end of a receptacle and having a spring to retain said receptacle in the recess thereon, and means for swinging said arm into operative position to carry the receptacle into engagement with the recess and cooperating spring on the stationary bracket.

27. An apparatus of the class described comprising a track, a carrier adapted to traverse the same and provided with a pair of supporting wheels cooperating with one :2

side of said track, a motor mounted 011 the carrier, and a driving wheel connected to the motor and arranged to engage the track at a point between the said supporting wheels and at a side thereof opposite to that engaged by said supporting wheels.

28. An apparatus ofthe class described comprising a track embed ing a pair of upper and lower grooved wheels to engage the upper sides of the respective track Wires, a motor mounted on the carrier, and a driving wheel connected to said motor and engaging the under side of the upper track at a pomt between the upper supporting wheels.

29. An apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of upper and lower track wires, a carrier having pairs of upper and lower grooved wheels arranged to travel upon the upper sides of the respective track wires, :1. motor mounted on the carrier and electrically connected to the respective upper and lower wheels so as to receive motive power from the track wires, and a driving wheel connected to said motor and engaging one of said track wires to propel the carrier.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing nesses.

WILLIAM A. LOOMIS. Witnesses:

WM. C. Pnnscorr, PERRY A. MILLER. 

